Arsenal are reportedly ready to elevate Viktor Gyokeres into one of their top earners should they succeed in luring the prolific forward from Sporting Lisbon to the Emirates this summer.
The Gunners have identified the Swedish striker as a top priority in the upcoming transfer window and are said to be prepared to meet Sporting’s asking price of £60 million.
Gyokeres, who celebrates his 27th birthday next month, has emerged as one of the most appealing candidates on a three-man shortlist thanks to his incredible goal return and increasing availability.
The north London side are keen to finalise deals early and have already opened discussions, as Mikel Arteta pushes for serious reinforcements up front.
However, Arsenal are not alone in their pursuit—Manchester United and Atletico Madrid are also monitoring the situation closely.
Sporting Lisbon, however, are understood to be holding out for a fee closer to £70 million for the in-form striker, who boasts a remarkable scoring record of 95 goals in 100 appearances for the Portuguese club.
According to Portuguese publication A Bola, Arsenal have already initiated a “survey” which Gyokeres’ representatives are aware of.
The offer reportedly includes a lucrative net salary package worth €8.3 million (£7 million) annually.
That would put the striker’s gross weekly salary in the region of £240,000 pounds and place him among the club’s highest’s earners, trailing only Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, according to Capology.
The contract being proposed spans four to five years, highlighting Arsenal’s long-term plans for the Swedish international.
Though a formal bid has yet to be submitted, the club is increasingly viewing Gyokeres as a more attainable and financially reasonable alternative to Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, whose transfer fee is likely to be significantly higher.
After falling short in the Champions League semi-finals and watching Liverpool snatch the Premier League title during a season where Manchester City looked beatable, Mikel Arteta, along with newly appointed sporting director Andrea Berta, acknowledges the urgent need for top-level reinforcements in attack.
However, not everyone within the club is fully convinced about Gyokeres’ readiness for Premier League football, given the gulf in quality between the English top flight and Portugal’s Primeira Liga, despite the Swede’s 38 league goals this term.
Another name under serious consideration is Slovenian talent Benjamin Sesko. With 26 goals in the current campaign and still just 21 years old, Sesko fits Arsenal’s profile for a long-term investment.
The club have also previously made significant progress toward a potential deal.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are also focused on protecting the core of their current squad. The contracts of Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Gabriel are all due to expire in two years, prompting concern from rival clubs across Europe.
The club remains confident in securing Saka’s future, with a new long-term agreement expected this summer.
It is the Saliba situation where there is apprehension. Real Madrid are keen on the Frenchman and have started to ramp up their public interest in him.
At just 24, Saliba is determined to win major trophies. With another season passing without silverware, Arsenal may face challenges in persuading him to commit his long-term future to the club.
